What the science should be within the Chornobyl zone?
The problem of reviving scheduled scientific research and development within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (ChEZ) was discussed during the roundtable under the chairmanship of Mr. Vitalii Petruk, Head of the State Exclusion Zone Agency (SEZA), on 29 January, 2016.
Experts of the Chornobyl Center took an active part in organization and conduction of the roundtable. Dr. Mykhailo Bondarkov, Director General; Dr. Serhii Gashchak, Deputy Director of the International Radioecology Laboratory (IRL) for Science; Boris Oskolkov, Head of the Department for Ecology and Environmental Assessments, presented their reports.
Over 70 scientists, public officials, and pressmen participated in the discussion of the issue. The audience was presented with 12 reports on various aspects of scientific activities within the Exclusion Zone: what system of organizing scientific research is needed today and in future within CEZ; what environmental risks exist in the zone and must be taken into consideration when working there and further planning of the zone’s future; outcomes and future lines of scientific research; state of radiation and general ecological safety and research prospects for studying biocoenoses ecology within ChEZ; scientific aspects of radioactive waste management, Chornobyl NPP decommissioning, and transformation of the Shelter into ecologically safe system, etc.
The speakers emphasized that education and involvement of young scientists into the scientific research within the Exclusion Zone, planned and systematic research, and surely financing of the research and development by the state are major problems.
Participants of the roundtable proposed to entrust SEZA with the function of a scientific research coordinator within the Exclusion Zone; restore management system for these works and recover activities of ChEZ scientific and technical council; define basic scientific organizations; identify research priorities and ensure their financing; create attractive conditions for young scientists.
Prepared by:
S.M. Chesnokova,
2 30 16
schesnokova@chornobyl.net
